Is there a free alternative to Around?

Yes. Slack offers a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest Around alternative to try before you pay.

Why switch away from Around?

Around is a strong tool, but our full hands-on testing is still in progress. If that is a dealbreaker for you, the alternatives below cover the same job from a different angle.

How do you choose these alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has, never by who pays the most.

Team Communication

Best Around alternatives

Q: What is the best alternative to Around?

Slack is our top Around alternative. Slack edges out Around in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.0 overall. It scores 4.5 in our testing.

We put Around head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.

Read our Around review

Why people look elsewhere

Where Around can fall short

Our full hands-on testing is still in progress

Pricing can climb on higher tiers

Ranked by our testing

6 alternatives worth your time

Slack

4.5

The messaging hub for modern teams.

Higher ratedFrom $8.75/moFree tier

Slack edges out Around in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.5

Our score

Try Slack Read review

Zoom

4.4

Reliable video meetings at any scale.

Higher ratedFrom $13.33/moFree tier

Zoom edges out Around in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Zoom Read review

Discord

4.4

Community chat with voice, video, and channels.

Higher ratedFrom $9.99/moFree tier

Discord edges out Around in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Discord Read review

Google Meet

4.2

Simple video calls inside Google Workspace.

Higher ratedFrom FreeFree tier

Google Meet edges out Around in our testing, scoring 4.2 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Google Meet Read review

Whereby

4.2

Browser-based video meetings with no installs.

Higher ratedFrom $6.99/moFree tier

Whereby edges out Around in our testing, scoring 4.2 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Whereby Read review

Twist

4.1

Calm, async-first team communication.

Higher ratedFrom $6/moFree tier

Twist edges out Around in our testing, scoring 4.1 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.1

Our score

Try Twist Read review

Side by side

Around vs the alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
AroundYou have	4.0	Free	Yes	Lightweight video calls built for focus.
Slack	4.5	$8.75/mo	Yes	The messaging hub for modern teams.
Zoom	4.4	$13.33/mo	Yes	Reliable video meetings at any scale.
Discord	4.4	$9.99/mo	Yes	Community chat with voice, video, and channels.
Google Meet	4.2	Free	Yes	Simple video calls inside Google Workspace.
Whereby	4.2	$6.99/mo	Yes	Browser-based video meetings with no installs.
Twist	4.1	$6/mo	Yes	Calm, async-first team communication.

Our pick

Switch to Slack

Slack edges out Around in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.0 overall. It is the Around alternative we recommend first for most people.

Try Slack Compare them side by side

Questions

No catch, just answers

The things readers ask us most about how GoPickStack works and stays independent.

Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 8 across Team Communication.